The time when Juhi Chawla refused a film with Madhuri Dixit

In Bollywood, the professional rivalry among the actors is something that does exist a little bit. It was during the period of 90s, two reigning queens of that era, actresses Madhuri Dixit Nene and Juhi Chawla were considered to be the healthy rivals who never shared screen space together then. Though it wasn’t a personal tiff, but reports suggest that they avoided working with each other. In the year 2014, finally they both teamed up and worked together in ‘Gulaab Gang’. Witnessing these two talented performers in one frame wasn’t less than a delight for their fans and moviegoers. But, recently we stumbled upon an old interview of actress Juhi Chawla where she had admitted that she left a film titled ‘Rishta’ (which was later shelved) as she thought that her role wouldn’t be at par with that of Madhuri, who was also playing the female lead in it. She even went on to speak about Madhuri. (Also Check: When Shilpa Shetty’s hatred towards Akshay Kumar was evident post their breakup…)

Juhi had given this interview to Filmfare where she opened up and here’s what stated about Madhuri Dixit Nene:

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Why Juhi Chawla refused 'Rishta'?

"'Rishta' was offered to me quite a while ago. Madhuri, Anil and I were supposed to be in the film. Anil and Madhuri had worked with the unit earlier, I would have been the odd one out. People close to me started wondering whether it would have been a wise move on my part. I was unnerved by their speculations. So I refused the offer. (winks) Basically, I just chickened out."

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Was Juhi Chawla insecure?

When the actress was asked whether she was insecure, she said, "Frankly, yes. I wasn't sure that my role would be on par with Madhuri's. Perhaps I wouldn't have had such doubts if I trusted the director completely."

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"I don't want to come out looking second best"

"I don't have anything against Madhuri Dixit though. She has been warm whenever we have met. And she is a good actress and an excellent dancer. If I am pitted against her in a film, I don't want to come out looking second best. Comparisons are bound to arise when we are seen together. So I just didn't want to get into a chakkar."

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Why it was difficult for two actresses to be friends?

When asked about this, Juhi said, "See, the system works differently here! The number of good roles is limited while the heroines are a dime a dozen. Now Madhuri and I may not be competing personally for the same roles but each of our secretaries does try to get the best ones."

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"It kind of becomes difficult to be friendly in such an atmosphere"

"So camps are formed, tongues wag, naturally, our defences are up when we meet each other in public, it kind of becomes difficult to be friendly in such an atmosphere. You want to outshine the other heroine all the time."

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Does Madhuri Dixit make you insecure?

When asked about the same, Juhi said, "Nooo... ! I mean why should I feel insecure? I admire Madhuri for her dedication to work. She gives her performance all she's got. I think if you want to excel at something you have got to give it all your time and effort."

There’s no doubt that actress Anushka Sharma had a dream debut when she was cast opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan in her first film ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. Following this, it was her third release ‘Band Baaja Baaraat’ (2010) that proved to be a turning point in her career. And since then there has been no looking back for this gorgeous powerhouse performer. Time and again, she has proved her mettle as an actor, and even as a producer with films like ‘NH10’. Throughout this nine year long journey, Anushka’s family has indeed been her constant motivation and support that have always kept her going ahead.

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Recently, we stumbled upon an old interview of Anushka Sharma where the actress revealed an interesting incident. Anushka revealed when she got to know that her mother Ashima Sharma always wanted her to be an actress.

It was during Anushka’s conversation on show ‘India’s Most Desirable’ when after listening to her mother Ashima Sharma’s message that had been recorded for her, the actress asked host Simi Garewal if she can say something about her mum. And then the actress went on to share this incident from the time when she had got the news of been signed on for ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’. (Also Read: Did you know? Little Abhishek Bachchan found his mother’s films very depressing)

She said, “There was this one time I was driving back from Yash Raj Studios and I got the news, Adi (Aditya Chopra) told me. And I was driving back and I couldn’t drive anymore because I was crying. I was so happy.. I was crying. So I stopped… I stopped the car and I pulled over and I called my mother and I told her that I got this film. And you know what my mum told me? There’s this turtle that used to be there in my living room. It was I think some Feng Shui thing. You just open the turtle and you put something like a wish inside that turtle and you shut it. And when your wish comes true you take it out. So she never never told me about this. But then she came down after she heard that I have got the film she opened that and showed it to me. She’d written it there ‘I hope my daughter stars in a Yash Raj film’. I swear… it’s unbelievable. So I think somewhere she always wanted me to be an actress.”

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Upon hearing this, Simi reacted, “What are you saying?” Anushka added, “She said that she’d written this long ago, one thing for my brother and one thing for me.” Simi immediately asked if what was written for her brother came true as well, to which, Anushka nodded her head in agreement. And then when Simi asked Anushka if she (Simi) could write something in this magical, wish-fulfilling turtle, Anushka smiled and said, “You have to meet my mom right (smiles) she has some direct contact with God.”

Indeed, every parent wishes the best for his/her children and this incident is something that showcases this perfectly. Unbelievable, unforgettable, and totally lovable.

For a young kid, it is really hard to believe and understand that his/her parents are getting divorced. This difficult time was hit on actor Shahid Kapoor, who was just three years old when his parents Pankaj Kapur and Neelima Azeem got separated from each other. In his first growing years, Shahid lived and spent much more time with his mother in Delhi at that time. The actor mother believes that as a single divorced woman bringing up a child would have been hard for his mother but nobody can understand this better than her. But, as a mother, for Neelima Azeem her son Shahid turned her strength when he was just four years old.

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Recently, we stumbled upon an old interview of Shahid Kapoor. The actor had appeared as the celebrity guest on host Simi Garewal’s talk show ‘India’s Most Desirable’. And it was his mother Neelima herself who shared (through a special message) a heart touching incident between her and little Shahid. It was during the actor’s conversation when the host asked him that did his mother ever tell him about what she was going through, her kind of personal turmoil or did she not. To which, Shahid replied, “We were friends, so I mean we kind of spoke about everything. I spoke about how I felt, she spoke about how she felt.” (Also Read: Shahid Kapoor’s first heartbreak: Two most painful minutes of his life)

As he finished saying this, it was Neelima Azeem’s voice that was heard then. Her message recorded for him was played on a LED TV screen where she said, “Something so personal I want to share here with you is that when he was only four years old I mean obviously there were moments when at night I used to you know sometimes let go of the pain and the fears that come along with the divorce especially when you are as young as that. And I remember that I was… he found me crying maybe at some late hour at night and he took me on his chest at four years and he said ‘Mumma why you crying you know Main Hoon Na.’ I mean literally that film came (later on) and he said ‘Main Hoon Na’. And I don’t know from there onwards it just.. it just hit me that he is there with me you know and there is nothing to worry.”

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On hearing this, Simi immediately asked, “Even now! You’re still there for her.” Shahid took a slight pause and replied, “I hope I am. But, when you become an adult and when you start working around the clock I always live with the guilt that I don’t give enough time to my family. So I hope I’m there for her.”

Shahid even mentioned in the show that his mother Neelima had never made him feel a hard time and her pain, being she was very good with that to hide.

Indeed, it is such a heart touching incident to remember shared by Shahid’s mother.